Fly from London, UK, Ireland to Nürnberg, Germany

Cheap Flights to Nuremberg (NUE) for Christmas Markets (Weihnachtsmarkt)

Low-cost airlines have cheap tickets and low airfares on flights from London, the UK, and Ireland to Nürnberg / Nuremberg Airport (NUE) to visit German Christmas markets.

© tourismus.nuernberg.de

German Christmas markets are famous and popular with visitors from Ireland and the UK. Low-cost budget airlines allow visitors to fly cheaply at low airfares to Germany for a weekend of Glühwein (mulled wine) and Christmas shopping. German hotels and food are generally much cheaper than what can be expected in the UK.

Christmas market in High German is Weihnachtsmarkt (Weihnachtsmärkte in plural) – literally Holy Night Market. However, various names are used throughout the country. In Bavaria, including Nürnberg, Christkindlesmarkt (various spellings are used) is more popular.

Nürnberg (Nuremberg) Christmas Market

The most famous Christmas market in Germany is the one in Nürnberg (Nuremberg), Bavaria. The heart of the Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt is on the Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square) in front of the High Gothic façade of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

The Hauptmarkt is a pleasant 15-minute walk through the old town from the Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) or less than 5 minutes from the U-Bahn (Underground) train station Lorenzkirche.

Cheap Flights on Low-Cost Airlines to Nürnberg / Nuremberg Airport (NUE) from London, the UK, and Ireland

© air-berlin.com

Nürnberg / Nuremberg Airport (NUE) is a major hub of German low-cost airline Air Berlin. Air Berlin has often been voted best budget airline in Europe. In contrast to most Irish and British low-cost airlines, Air Berlin passengers may still take 20 kg of checked luggage for free, no hidden surcharges for not checking luggage, and on most flights passengers still get a free drink and snack – on longer flights high-quality meals can be ordered in advance at reasonable prices. Seats are assigned at check in or can be reserved in advance for a fee. If you have to cancel your flight, Air Berlin will refund your taxes without quibbles or administration fees.

Air Berlin flies twice daily to Nürnberg / Nuremberg Airport (NUE) from London Stansted (STN). Guaranteed connection flights are available to Nürnberg via Stansted from Glasgow (GLA) and Manchester (MAN).

From Belfast, Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, and other London airports, no direct flights are available but various options exist on many airlines via other European airports.

How to Get the Cheapest Tickets and Flights to Nürnberg

Use any major online ticket reservation service to set a base price – shortest flight on the most convenient date and time. An increasing number of online ticket reservation services include low-cost budget airlines in price comparisons. Then compare other possible dates and airports but remember to add the extra travel time required and price of ground transportation before deciding that a cheap flight to a less convenient airport really is a bargain. Nürnberg Airport is a cheap ten-minute U-Bahn (Subway/Underground) ride from the old town Christmas market – this convenience is worth a few quid.

Cheap Flights on Low-Cost Airlines to Alternative Airports for Nürnberg / Nuremberg from London, the UK, and Ireland

For lovers of low-cost flights there are not that many alternatives when flying to Nürnberg (Nuremberg). The logical alternatives are Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Munich / München Airport (MUC). Both have an enormous number of flights to London, the UK, and Ireland but neither sees many low-cost airlines. (Air Berlin just started flights from Stansted to Munich).

However, at times full-service airlines have good deals –mostly available on the internet and the airline’s own website only – to these convenient airports on slow-selling flights. Lufthansa often has return flights for €99 all taxes and charges included.

Cheap Train Tickets to Nürnberg (Nuremberg) from Frankfurt and Munich Airports

Usually two trains per hour go directly from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof taking two and a half hours. The full fare is €94 return but can be as low as €45 if tickets are bought three days in advance (on the web), specific trains are reserved, and a Saturday night stay is included. Further special offers with advance reservations include: two traveling together for €64 return and a group of five for €141 return.

Traveling time from Munich Airport (MUC) is two hours and requires a transfer at Munich Hauptbahnhof. Prices and special offers are similar to those from Frankfurt. If only regional trains are used, the traveling time can increase to just over two and a half hours but then a Bayern Ticket (€19 for single, €27 (€19 after 6 pm) for up to five) can be used giving unlimited local (slower) train rides in Bavaria for a day. (Children 7 to 14 count when the Bayern Ticket is used but an unlimited number of own or grandchildren may travel with parents / grandparents on a group ticket.)

Children under 14 traveling with parents or grandparents travel for free but must be named on the original booking – not valid on the Bayern Ticket. Children under 6 always travel for free and need not be named on the tickets.

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Published: October 29 2007